Combustion and pollution control system
A controlled amount of a fluid (steam or water or a solution of water plus additives) is injected into an internal combustion engine to improve combustion, efficiency, and to reduce emissions. The amount of the fluid injected is controlled in response to engine need. The steam is generated by the heat produced by the engine. Combustion gas temperature is used to control the amount of steam produced by varying the fluid flow through one or more fixed or variable orifice control valves. The steam is injected in a piston engine to cool peak temperatures, to prevent detonation and pre-ignition, to smooth out hot spots, to prevent auto-ignition or dieseling, and to use the vapor energy in the expansion cycle to increase low speed torque and acceleration. The steam is used to cause full retard of the vacuum spark advance during acceleration at full load from low speed, and a large amount of steam is injected at this point in the cycle to prevent pre-ignition and detonation. Ultrasonic energy is added to the injected steam to produce better mixing and distribution. Hydrogen is also injected to permit better combustion with higher amounts of air. The hydrogen is produced by the interaction of a catalyst on the steam and fuel hydrocarbons and ultrasonic energy. At times exhaust gas and other additives, such as hydrogen peroxide, methyl alcohol and ammonia are injected.
- Assignee:
- Owen, Wickersham and Erickson
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4393817
- OSTI ID:
- 5477661
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: Filed date 25 Sep 1980; Other Information: PAT-APPL-190932
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
COMBUSTION CONTROL
FLUID INJECTION
POLLUTION CONTROL
EFFICIENCY
HYDROGEN
STEAM INJECTION
ULTRASONIC WAVES
CONTROL
ELEMENTS
ENGINES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
HEAT ENGINES
NONMETALS
RECOVERY
SOUND WAVES
THERMAL RECOVERY
330100* - Internal Combustion Engines